The Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an important advocacy tool. In 2015, 193 countries signed up to the commitments contained in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda including the 17 SDGs and related targets. These can be used to hold Governments to account, monitor progress and to link your existing advocacy efforts to targets contained in this global framework.

The SDGs have enormous potential for transformative impact on the root causes of gender inequality but to achieve this we need governments to meet their existing global commitments to progressing women’s rights and gender equality.

This page provides information on the SDGs, how to use them for advocacy and the associated reporting processes and regional and international fora.

Discussion and Webinar Links

This section will be updated with links to webinars and notes from any Working Group discussions.

News and Opportunities

Find information about the HLPF 2018 here including the program and background notes.

Useful Resources

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The SDGs, or Global Goals for Sustainable Development, are a set of 17 goals and 169 targets, which have been agreed on by 193 countries. They provide us with a universal pathway to drive systemic change in our countries, in our region and in the world.

Gender equality and the SDGs

Gender Equality and women’s empowerment has been acknowledged as central to the achievement of the SDGs. Gender equality is recognised within the SDGs in a standalone goal, Goal 5, as well as across other goals through a number of gender-related targets and indicators (see diagram below).

See these resources for further information on gender equality and the SDGs:

Regional and international processes

The SDGs are driven by a number of key international and regional processes. Understanding these processes and their role in advancing the SDGs can inform your advocacy work and provide opportunities for engagement.

High Level Political Forum

The High Level political Forum (HLPF) is the United Nations main platform for sustainable development, and is central to the follow-up and review of the SDGs. It adopts negotiated declarations, reviews commitment and the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It meets in July; both under the General Assembly every four years and the ECOSOC in other years with technical, ministerial and high level segments.

At each HLPF, focus is given to a particular theme and a number of SDGs. The HLPF in 2018 is focused on ‘Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies’, with goals 6, 7, 11, 12 and 15, as well as goal 17 given particular attention in review.

Each year the Secretary General, in cooperation with the UN system, produces a progress report on the SDGs which informs the follow up and review in the HLPF for that year. You can read the 2018 report here. [PDF]

Major Groups, representing key sectors of society, help channel the engagement of civil society in United Nations intergovernmental processes related to sustainable development.

The NGO Major Group facilitates the participation and engagement of NGOs in the processes directly and indirectly related to the HLPF.

The Women’s Major Group (WMG) facilitates women’s civil society input into the policy space provided by the United Nations, including input regarding the SDGs. The WMG produces position papers, presents at sessions of the HLPF and coordinates advocacy through social media, briefings and events.

In 2016 United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) member States agreed that the annual Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) will serve as a platform for supporting follow-up and review of progress on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level.

Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) report are produced by Governments on country progress, successes and challenges in implementation of the SDGs. Countries are recommended to present at least two national reviews at the HLPF by 2030. However, the timing for reviews will be determined by Members States. VNRs are an important mechanisms through which policies and government institutions can be informed and held to account on SDGs implementation.

This guide [PDF] produced by the WMG aims to provide guidance for women’s rights organisations to develop VNRs with governments or in preparing alternative reports to ensure gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Using the SDGs for Advocacy

As governments work towards achieving the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda, advocacy can be a powerful way of engaging with departments and ministers to demand resources and commitments, and form partnerships to work more effectively towards achieving the goals. Below you can find resources such as information, checklists, toolkits and examples of how advocacy around the SDGs and action towards the goals can be used to transform society.

ESCAP Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2017 [PDF]
An assessment of the progress towards the SDG targets in Asia and the Pacific and its subregions. This report addresses regional progress on SDG implementation, progress at the subregional level, and disparities in progress towards the goal and target areas.

Useful tools to support SDGs advocacy

IWDA’s Global Goals Advocacy Checklist [PDF]
This advocacy checklist aims to help you think about how you can use the SDGs (and, in particular, Goal 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment) as a way of engaging with departments and ministers, demanding resources and commitments from your Governments, and collaborating with others to achieve the greatest impact.

Localising the SDGs
Platform that provides practical direction in assessing, planning, implementing and monitoring local policies in relation to the SDGs, and provides tools to support stakeholders towards effective implementation of the SDGs.